Bag dispensing apparatus



y 4, 1967 l B. ,c. HARRIIS, JR, ETAL 3,328,939

BAG DI SPENS ING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 12, 1964 July 4, 1967 B. c. HARRIS, JR., ETAL 3,328,939

BAG DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 4, 1967 B. c. HARRIS, JR, ETAL 3,328,939

BAG DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 -52. in I0 United States Patent 3,328,939 BAG DISPENSING APPARATUS This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing a bag from a supply of interconnected flattened bags.

Current packaging practice wherein large paper or plastic open-top bags are used as containers involves a large number of hand operations. Normally the bags 'are received in boxes or bundles and mus-t be removed from the boxes or bundles and opened by hand prior to filling and sealing. Recently, bags have been manufactured from tubular plastic material, particularly polyethylene, by transversely welding the Walls of the tubing at longitudinally spaced points and perforating or partially slitting the tubing immediately below the weld lines to provide an interconnected series of bag units that may be rolled or folded flat in the festooned arrangement for delivery to the customer. Examples of interconnected series of both plastic and paper bag units are shown in US. Patents 2,612,738; 3,060,075; and 3,094,083. Flattened plastic bags, both single and interconnected types, are often difiicult to open because of the electrostatic charge collected by the plastic material. The charge causes the walls of the bag to stick together.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing a single bag from an interconnected series of bags.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for dispensing a bag from a series of interconnected bags whereby the bag is delivered and opened automatically for filling.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing a single bag from a series of interconnected bags automatically without sequential actuation by an operator.

The foregoing, and other aims, objects and advantages of the invention as may appear hereinafter, are realized in an apparatus for dispensing a single bag from .a longi tudinally interconnected series of flattened bags. The apparatus includes a pair of elongated rollers mounted in side by side relationship adapted to contact each other over at least a portion of their lengths. Means are provided for mounting the pair of rollers in contact with each other. Means are also provided for rotating the pair of rollers to move the interconnected series of bags longitudinally through the rollers-i.e. through the nip. Means for stopping the roller rotation after a single bag is fed through the rollers are also provided. Additionally, there are provided means to open the flattened bag for filling.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective elevationalview of an apparatus for dispensing bags constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the air chamber assembly as shown on FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 8 is an elevational perspective view of a sec- ICC tion from an interconnected series of bags showing the sealing, cutting and perforating details of the bags.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, the bag dispensing apparatus of the present invention includes a vertically extending left frame member 1, and a vertically extending right frame member 2. A transverse top frame member 3 extends between the upper end of the left and right frame members and is connected thereto by means of gusset 4 and bolts 5. The lower ends of the left and right frame members are attached to rectangular foot plates 6. These plates may be attached to the frame members by welding or other suitable means. A front cross frame member 7 extends between the left and right frame members and is attached thereto by bolts 5. Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 3, a transverse frame member 8 is welded to frame member 1 and extends rearwardly therefrom. A left leg'member 9 is attached to the end of frame member 8 by welding or other means and extends downwardly therefrom. Rear cross frame member 10 is attached to leg member 9 and transverse frame member 8 and extends parallel to front cross frame member 7. A right leg member 11 is attached to rear cross frame 10 and extends downwardly therefrom. Foot plates 6 are attached to the bottoms of left and right leg members 9 and 11. Channel member 12 is attached to the right frame member and extends outwardly therefrom. A motor mounting plate 13 is fixed to the top of channel member 12 and to the rear cross frame member 10.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3, and 7, a lower roller 14 is fixedly mounted on shaft 15 which extends through left .and right frame members 2 and 3 and is rotatably supported in bearing blocks 16 (only one of which is shown) which blocks are secured to the frame members by bolts 5. A roller pulley 17 is attached to one end of shaft 15 in order to rotate the lower roller 14. A belt 18 extends from roller pulley 17 to the motor drive pulley 19. The motor drive pulley 19 is rotatably mounted on the motor shaft 20 and forms a portion of the electromagnetic clutch assembly, designated generally by the numeral 21, which assembly is fixedly attached to the end of motor shaft 20'. The electric motor22 is mounted on motor mounting plate 13. Particularly suitable electromagnetic clutch assemblies are the 5,700 series of Electro Sheave assemblies sold by Warner Electric Brake and Clutch Company. However, any suitable electrically actuated clutch assembly can be used.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, upper roller 23 is mounted on shaft 24. The shaft 24 is carried by an upper roller support assembly, designated generally by the numeral 25. The assembly includes an adjustable support bar 26. Shaft support blocks 27 are welded to the underside of support bar 26 adjacent each end thereof. As may be seen more clearly in FIGURE 6, the shaft 24 is retained in each support block 27 by a cap member 28. Allen head screws 29 removably attach the cap member to the shaft support block.

Upper roller support assembly 25 is mounted for vertical movement in order to engage and disenage the upper and lower rollers. The toggle mechanism 30 is mounted on a bracket 31 that is attached to the top frame memher. The toggle mechanism is connected to the upper end end of a link bar 32 which has its lower end attached to the upper roller support assembly 25.

A spring guide assembly, designated generally by the numeral 33, is mounted connectingly between the upper roller support assembly 25 and the top frame member 3 adjacent each end thereof. As seen in FIGURE 6, the spring guide assembly includes a stud 34 threadedly attached on its lower end to support bar 26 and having its upper end received in a hollow, exteriorly threaded bolt 35. The hollow bolt 35 is carried by a threaded collar 36 welded to the top frame member. A spring 37 surrounds the stud 34 and extends from support bar 26 to a washer 38 which abuts the lower end of the hollow bolt 35. The spring guide assembly serves both to align the upper roller support assembly and to provide spring tension to maintain the upper roller 23 in firm frictional engagement with lower roller 14. The tension on springs 33 is adjusted by screwing bolts 35 up or down to achieve the desired pressure on the upper roller 23.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, each of the outer ends of support bar 26 is provided with a threaded opening which receives bolt 39. The end of bolt 39 bears against a bracket 40. By adjusting bolts 39 the upper roller support assembly 25 may be positioned to achieve the desired degree of frictional contact between upper roller 23 and lower roller 14.

Referring now to FIGURES l, 2, and 4, an air chamber assembly, designated generally by the numeral 41, is attached by bolts to the frame immediately in front of the lower roller 14. Air is supplied to the air chamber assembly through regulator 42 and conduit 43. As seen in FIGURE 5, the chamber assembly includes a cylindrical air chamber 44 having openings 45 in the lower portion thereof. Mounting plate 46 is welded to the cylindrical air chamber 44. An air deflector plate 47 is welded to the front side of the air chamber 44 in such a manner to provide a narrow space between its lower end and the lower end of mounting plate 46.

In operation the bag dispensing apparatus of the present invention will normally be located adjacent a bagging station. As seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, a supply of longitudinally interconnected, flattened bags 48 is positioned within a container 50 located at the rear of the bag dispensing apparatus. The container has a full open top 49 to permit withdrawal of the bags. If desired, the container 50 may be omitted when the bags are received from the manufacturer in a box. The shipping box can be slit across the top, or at any other suitable location, and the bags withdrawn through the slit without opening the top of the shipping box. The operator moves the toggle mechanism 30 to the up position thereby separating upper roller 23 and fixed lower roller 14. The end of the length of interconnected bags is fed through the space between the two rollers and turned downward behind the deflector plate 47. The toggle mechanism is then placed in the lower position and springs 37 press top roller 23 against the flattened bag and lower roller 14.

A bag guide trough, designated generally by the numeral 57, is attached to the rear cross frame member and extends from the edge of the bag container 50 upwardly to a point adjacent the nip of the rollers 14 and 23. The guide trough supports the series of interconnected bags as they are lifted from the bag container and fed through the rollers. In addition to supporting the bags as they come out of the container 50, the guide trough also centers the bags horizontally in the apparatus.

A switch (not shown) is actuated to supply electrical power to the motor 22 which actuates the clutch assembly 21 and rotates the lower roller 14 through the drive assembly. The rotation of roller 14 moves the first bag 51 downwardly in front of back-up plate 52. When the lower end of bag 51 enters the bag guide assembly 53, located on the lower end of the apparatus, the bag contacts a lever 54 and moves this lever to the downward position as shown in FIGURE 3. The lever 54 is connected to and actuates an electrical micro-switch 55 located behind back-up plate 52. An electrical lead 56 connects a source of electrical power (not shown) through the micro-switch 55 to the electro-magnetic clutch assembly 21. When the lower end of bag 51 actuates the micro-switch the clutch assembly is de-energized and motor drive pulley 19 free-wheels on motor shaft 20 thereby stopping rotation of the rollers 14 and 23. Electric motor 22 continues to operate even though pulley 19 is not rotating. The first bag 51 stops with the slit 60 (as seen in FIGURE 8) in its front wall immediately below the air chamber. Air flowing from air chamber 41 enters the slit 60 and blows the bag open, as can be seen in FIGURE 3. The operator then manually tears the open bag across the perforated line 59 provided in the rear wall of the bag and moves the bag to the filling machine (not shown). When the first bag is removed, lever 54 returns to the up position actuating the micro-switch and completing the circuit between the power source and clutch assembly 21 whereby drive pulley 19 is engaged causing a second bag to be advanced into position by rotation of lower roller 14. This bag is automatically opened by the continuous air flow in the same manner as described for the first bag. Each bag is automatically placed in position and opened for use by the operator until the bag dispenser has exhausted the supply of interconnected bags.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, a section of interconnected bags 48 is depicted which illustrates the manner in which the bags are fabricated. The interconnected series of bags 48 may be fabricated from a tube of thin wall thermoplastic material, particularly polyethylene. The walls of the tubular plastic material are sealed together transversely by heat welding along a line 58 to provide a series of longitudinally spaced apart bag units. Immediately below the weld line 58 one Wall of the bag is erforated along a line 59 and the other wall of the bag is cut through along the line 60. In the view shown in FIGURE 8 the bags are shown with their tops open slightly in order to clearly show the perforated line 59 and the cut line 60 which are normally superimposed when the bags are flattened.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that the bag dispensing apparatus of the present invention provides a number of advantageous features not found in bag handling apparatuses known heretofore. Use of bag dispensing apparatus described herein can effectively eliminate the need for a helper to remove individual bags from a carton, open the same, and hand the bag to a filling machine operator. The automatic feature of the apparatus is particularly advantageous in that it permits the electrical motor to operate continuously thereby eliminating damage to the motor which would be occasioned by starting and stopping the motor each time a single bag was delivered.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof, and, in light thereof, other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for dispensing a single bag from a longitudinally, interconnected series of flattened bags compnsmg:

(a) a generally rectangular, upright frame;

(b) a pair of elongated rollers mounted on shafts for rotation in side-by-side relationship in said frame;

(c) a movably mounted support assembly mounting one of said rollers and adapted to move said one roller into and out of engagement with the other of said pair of rollers; (d) a drive mechanism attached to the shaft of one of said rollers and adapted to rotate said pair of rollers to thereby move the flattened bags longitudinally through said rollers, said drive mechanism including, (1) a pulley mounted on the shaft of said one of said rollers, (2) an electric motor mounted adjacent said pulley, (3) an electro-magnetic clutch assembly mounted on the shaft of said motor, (4) a belt connecting said pulley and said clutch assembly;

(e) an electric switch connected to said clutch assembly, said switch positioned at the lower end of said frame and adapted to be actuated by the lower portion of the end bag in the series of bags to disengage said clutch assembly after a single flattened bag has moved through said pair of rollers; and

(f) an air chamber assembly positioned on said frame and adapted to direct a flow of air into the top of the single flattened bag to open the bag preparatory to filling.

2. An apparatus for dispensing a single bag from a longitudinally, interconnected series of flattened bags comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular, upright frame;

(b) a pair of elongated rollers mounted on shafts for rotation in side-by-side relationship in said frame; (c) a movably mounted support assembly mounting one of said rollers and adapted to move said one roller into and out of engagement with the other of said pair of rollers, said assembly including adjustable biasing means to vary the contact pressure between said pair of rollers;

(d) a drive mechanism attached to the shaft of one of said rollers and adapted to rotate said pair of rollers to thereby move the flattened bags longitudinally through said rollers, said drive mechanism including,

(1) a pulley mounted on the shaft of said one of said rollers,

(2) an electric motor mounted adjacent said pulley,

(3) an electro-magnetic clutch assembly mounted on the shaft of said motor,

(4) a belt connecting said pulley and said clutch assembly;

'(e) a bag deflector plate on said frame positioned in front of said rollers to deflect said interconnected bags from a horizontal path to a vertically downward path;

(f) an electric switch connected to said clutch assembly, said switch positioned at the lower end of said frame and adapted tobe actuated by the lower portion of the end bag in the series of bags to disengage said clutch assembly after a single flattened bag has moved through said pair of rollers; and

(g) an air chamber assembly positioned on said bag deflector plate and adapted to direct a flow of air into the top of said end flattened bag to open the bag preparatory to filling.

3. An apparatus for dispensing a single bag from a longitudinally, interconnected series of flattened bags comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular, upright frame;

(b) a pair of elongated rollers mounted on shafts for rotation in side-by-side relationship in said frame; a movably mounted support assembly mounting one of said rollers and adapted to move said one roller into and out of engagement with the other of said pair of rollers, said assembly including adjustable spring biased means to vary the contact pressure between said pair of rollers, and said one roller being mounted on a shaft having one end projecting through an elongated opening provided in said frame;

(d) a drive mechanism attached to the shaft of one of said rollers and adapted to rotate said pair of rollers to thereby move the flattened bags longitudinally through said rollers, said drive mechanism including,

(1) a pulley mounted on the shaft of said one of said rollers,

(2) an electric motor mounted adjacent said pulley,

(3) an electro-magnetic clutch assembly mounted on the shaft of said motor,

(4) a belt connecting siad pulley and said clutch assembly;

(e) a bag deflector plate on said frame positioned in front of said rollers to deflect said interconnected bags from a horizontal path to a vertically downward path;

(f) an electric switch connected to said clutch assembly, said switch positioned at the lower end of said frame and adapted to be actuated by the lower portion of the end bag in the series of bags to disengage said clutch assembly after a single flattened bag has moved through said pair of rollers and is vertically suspended therefrom; and

(g) an air chamber assembly positioned on said bag deflector plate and adapted to direct a flow of air into the top of said end flattened bag to open the bag preparatory to filling.

4. apparatus for dispensing a single bag from a longitudinally, interconnected series of flattened bags comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular, upright frame;

(b) a pair of elongated rollers mounted on shafts for rotation in side-by-side relationship in said frame; (0) a movably mounted support assembly mounting one of said rollers and adapted to move said one roller into and out of engagement with the other of said pair of rollers, said assembly including adjustable biasing means to vary the contact pressure between said pair of rollers;

(d) a drive mechanism attached to the shaft of one of said rollers and adapted to rotate said pair of rollers to thereby move the flattened bags longitudinally through said rollers, said drive mechanism including,

(1) a pulley mounted on the shaft of said one of said rollers,

(2) an electric motor mounted adjacent said pulley,

(3) an electro-magnetic clutch assembly mounted on the shaft of said motor,

(4) a belt connecting said pulley and said clutch assembly;

(e) a bag guide assembly attached to the lower end of said frame to receive the lower end of each successive bag, said assembly providing an opening therein;

(f) a bag deflector plate on said frame positioned in front of said rollers to deflect said interconnected bags from a horizontal path to a vertically downward path;

(g) an electric switch connected to said clutch assembly, said switch positioned at the lower end of said frame and having an arm projecting through said opening in said guide assembly that is adapted to be actuated by the lower portion of the end bag in the series of bags to disengage said clutch assembly after a single flattened bag has moved through said pair of rollers; and

(h) an air chamber assembly positioned on said bag deflector plate and adapted to direct a flow of air into the top of said end flattened bag to open the bag preparatory to filling.

References Cited 6/ 1962 Austria.

GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A SINGLE BAG FROM A LONGITUDINALLY, INTERCONNECTED SERIES OF FLATTENED BAGS COMPRISING: (A) A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR, UPRIGHT FRAME; (B) A PAIR OF ELONGATED ROLLERS MOUNTED ON SHAFTS FOR ROTATION IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP IN SAID FRAME; (C) A MOVABLY MOUNTED SUPPORT ASSEMBLY MOUNTING ONE OF SAID ROLLERS AND ADAPTED TO MOVE SAID ONE ROLLER INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER OF SAID PAIR OF ROLLERS; (D) A DRIVE MECHANISM ATTACHED TO THE SHAFT OF ONE OF SAID ROLLERS AND ADAPTED TO ROTATE SAID PAIR OF ROLLERS TO THEREBY MOVE THE FLATTENED BAGS LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID ROLLERS, SAID DRIVE MECHANISM INCLUDING, (1) A PULLEY MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT OF SAID ONE OF SAID ROLLERS, (2) AN ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID PULLEY, (3) AN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC CLUTCH ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT OF SAID MOTOR, (4) A BELT CONNECTING SAID PULLEY AND SAID CLUTCH ASSEMBLY; 